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A hiker looks south along the Chinese Wall near Larch Hill Pass in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Photo by Ben Pierce.

Montana is a big state with a lot to do. From Yellowstone to Glacier, from the mountains to the plains, the Treasure State has something for everyone. In the spirit of the new year, here’s a list of outdoor pursuits to look forward to in 2012.

Bike the Bangtail Divide

The Bangtail Mountains are a small range tucked neatly between the Bridger and Crazy mountains east of Bozeman. They’re also home to one of the most spectacular mountain biking trails in the state. Completed in 2003, the Bangtail Divide Trail runs approximately 24 miles from Stone Creek to the Brackett Creek Trailhead on the east side of Bridger Canyon.

“The Bangtail Divide has elements of fast downhill riding, elements of long cross-country, technical switchbacks, it is always changing up on you,” Bozeman mountain biker Ben Donatelle said Tuesday. “No matter your skill or ability level, you can challenge yourself.”

Make it happen: Donatelle said the best time to ride the Bangtail Divide is in June when the trail has cleared of snow and the wildflowers are in full bloom. The trail can be ridden in either direction, but most riders prefer to finish at Brackett Creek. An easy shuttle eliminates the need to ride the eight miles of highway back to the Stone Creek Trailhead.

Canoe the White Cliffs

The haunting hoodoos and coulees of the Missouri River Breaks are nowhere more spectacular than on the “Might Mo” between Fort Benton and Judith Landing. Shaped by thousands of years of erosion, the White Cliffs emerge as a band of pale sandstone on the river near Coal Banks Landing. For more than 45 miles the undulations of this rock formation create a wonderland ripe for exploration. Camping and day hikes make for an experience unlike any other.

Connie Jacobs of the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center said most boaters float the White Cliffs between April and October with June and July the busiest months. The trip from Coal Banks Landing to Judith Landing is 47 river miles.

“Coal Banks to Judith Landing can be done in three days,” Jacobs said. “Four days is good if you want to add some extra hikes on the side.”

Make it happen: The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument website (www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm.html) has lots of information on floating the White Cliffs. Two boater’s guides are available for the full 149-mile Wild and Scenic River. An information packet with boat rental and shuttle information is free and can be obtained by calling BLM at 1-877-256-3252.

Backpack the Bob Marshall Wilderness

The Bob Marshall Wilderness in western Montana has long been a destination for seekers of solitude and wild country. Encompassing more than 1 million acres along the crest of the Continental Divide, the wilderness is among the largest roadless areas in the Lower 48. “The Bob” is a refuge for grizzly bears and bull trout and plays home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Montana.

Two main attractions of the Bob Marshall Wilderness are the Chinese Wall and the South Fork of the Flathead River. The Chinese Wall is a 1,000-foot-tall escarpment along the ridgeline of the Continental Divide that extends for 40 miles through the heart of the wilderness. The South Fork of the Flathead River flows nearly 100 miles from its headwaters to Hungry Horse Reservoir and is part of the National Wild and Scenic River System. A ford of the South Fork near Big Salmon Creek adds to the wilderness experience.

“It seems like our trail crews start getting across the South Fork on foot by late July or early August, obviously dependent on snowpack and flows,” Ted Wehunt of the Spotted Bear Ranger District said. “Worst Case scenario, if it is still high, is to head upstream from the White River confluence to Big Prairie and take the bridge across.”

Make it happen: For the full experience, begin your trip at the Mortimer Gulch Trailhead near Augusta. Follow the North Fork of the Sun River to Moose Creek and the Chinese Wall. Descend from Larch Hill Pass to the South Fork of the Flathead River. Hike out Big Salmon Creek to the trailhead at Holland Lake. Plan on 7-10 days to complete the trip.

Cook a foraged meal

Huckleberries, morels, chanterelles, spruce tips, elderberries, cattails, dandelions … the list of Montana’s wild edibles goes on and on. By tuning into the seasons, curious foodies can come up with some healthy, tasty and free meals that will enliven the palate and draw them into the outdoors searching for more.

While wild edibles are available throughout the year, the most abundant seasons in Montana are spring, summer and fall. Look for morel and oyster mushrooms along the riverbottoms in May and June. In July and August, head to the fields for prickly pear cactus and to the mountains in search of huckleberries and ramps. When the weather turns cool and wet in the fall, explore the forest for chanterelle mushrooms.

“We have people coming in all the time, especially in the spring and summer after it rains (looking for guidebooks on wild edibles),” said Cindy Hinson of Country Bookshelf. “Lately people that are doing a lot of hiking and backpacking have been really interested in edible and medicinal plants.”

Make it happen: The most important step in preparing a meal of wild edibles is proper identification. Hinson said Country Bookshelf carries several guidebooks to wild edibles including “Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies” by Linda Kershaw and “Good Mushroom Bad Mushroom” by John Plischke III. In addition to a good field guide, seek out local mycological societies and other foragers to learn more about the plants that surround us.

Fish a new stream

Spoiled we are for choice. With the Yellowstone, Madison and Gallatin rivers a 30-minute drive from Bozeman, it’s easy to fulfill your angling pursuits locally. But Montana’s blue-ribbon trout streams extend across the state. From the wide waters of the Kootenai River near Libby to the crystal flows of Big Spring Creek near Lewistown, the opportunities are varied and abundant.

If you’ve spent the time to explore some of the state’s lesser-known waters, try your hat at some of Montana’s lesser-known fish species. Walleye, carp, channel catfish, northern pike and smallmouth bass all offer anglers an enjoyable diversion from trout fishing.

Make it happen: Finding that secret fishing spot can be a challenge, but it’s a fun one. Get started by making a deal with your fishing partner to take a trip somewhere new. Pick up that atlas and follow those little blue lines to someplace you’ve never been, or better still, some place you’ve never heard of. You might be surprised by what you find.

Related posts:

1. Year of the worm? San Juan strikes first trout of season on Lower Madison River
2. Gallatin grizzlies: New research shows growing number of bruins in mountains north of Yellowstone National Park
3. The Wilderness Debate: A discussion of the Gallatin Forest’s wild places, access to them and what the future holds
4. Bozeman’s Joey Nelson first woman to be named Montana Bowhunter of the Year
5. Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation working for wildlands

Tags: Bangtail Divide Trail, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Fishing, mushrooms, White Cliffs of the Missouri River

This entry was posted by Ben Pierce on Thursday, January 5th, 2012 at 12:01 am and is filed under Bears, Boating, Bozeman, Cycling, Fishing, Glacier National Park, Hidden Gems, Hiking, U.S. Forest Service, Yellowstone National Park. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.